Spering, Vasquez lead in fundraising races

FAIRFIELD — Incumbent Supervisors Jim Spering and John Vasquez continue to hold substantial leads in the June 3 election campaign fundraising races – even though Vasquez failed to meet Thursday’s deadline for the latest financial filings.

Spering holds the Board of Supervisors seat for the 3rd District, which includes much of Fairfield and Suisun City and rural Suisun Valley. He is being challenged by Fairfield City Councilwoman Pam Bertani, Michael Oman and Steven Lowe. Candidates by 5 p.m. Thursday were to file campaign finance disclosure papers for the period from March 18 through May 17.

Spering has raised $68,818 since January and started the year with $11,151 already in his campaign fund, according to papers filed with the county Registrar of Voters. Bertani has raised $51,761 since January and Oman $8,522. Lowe earlier filed a paper saying he would raise and spend less than $1,000.

Among Spering’s contributors, Fairfield developer Andrews Lando & Associates gave $5,000, Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. Political Action Committee gave $2,500, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 180 gave $1,000, the Building Industry Association of the Bay Area Political Action Committee gave $2,500 and Kathryn Parsons, president of Fairfield-based Credit Bureau Associates, gave $1,000.

Bertani for the latest reporting period received $15,000 from Service Employees International Local 1081 Candidate Political Action Committee. She reported receiving $15,000 from the same source for the earlier reporting period. The union also made $4,250 in nonmonetary contributions, through phone banking, staff time and precinct walking.

Service Employees International Local 1081 is the largest union for Solano County government employees, representing more than 1,600 workers.

Her contributions also included $500 from Supervisor Skip Thomson and $250 from Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and Jan Lee Wong.

Oman loaned $3,397 to his campaign. Contributions included $500 from Fairfield-based High Pockets.

Vasquez holds the Board of Supervisors seat for the 4th District, which includes Dixon and much of Vacaville. He is being challenged by Dixon City Councilman Thom Bogue, Gerald Clift and Eugene Ray.

Vasquez raised $41,189 for the first reporting period of the year and missed Thursday’s 5 p.m. deadline to file for the second reporting period. But his first-period contributions alone gave him a substantial lead over his rivals, with Bogue raising $5,886 and Clift $9,500. Ray earlier filed papers saying he would raise and spend less than $1,000.

Among Vasquez’ first-period contributors, Republic Services gave $1,099, Waste Connections, which owns Potrero Hills Landfill near Suisun City, gave $2,500 and Recology, which provides garbage collection in Vacaville, gave $1,000.

Clift reported making a $2,200 loan to his campaign. He received $2,000 from Releaf, a medical marijuana dispensary in Vallejo, and $2,000 from Marc Hewitt of Vallejo.

District attorney campaign

In the District Attorney’s Office race, incumbent Donald du Bain did not turn in his financial report by 5 p.m. Thursday. Previous records show he has given $225,000 to his campaign, along with $80,000 left from a 2010 loan he made to his campaign.

Challenger Krishna Abrams, a Solano County deputy district attorney, reported raising $49,231 since January. Recent contributions include $5,000 from the Fairfield Police Officers Association, $1,000 from the Solano County Sheriff’s Custody Association, $5,250 from the Solano County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, $500 from Tom Toler of Toler Bail Bonds and $800 from Solano County Supervisor Skip Thomson.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Barry Eberling

Barry Eberling has been a reporter with the Daily Republic since 1987. He covers Solano County government, transportation, growth and the environment. He received his bachelors of art degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his masters degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.

The MisterMay 23, 2014 - 6:29 am

LarryMay 23, 2014 - 7:40 am

Do we have any negative comments about Spering's contributions? I know why he wanted the train station now. Developer Andrews Lando & Associates, Detroit based DTE Energy Co, Building Industry Association of the Bay Area and the Political Action Committee. All will be working on our new upcoming train station.

DotMay 23, 2014 - 7:59 am

Am I reading this correctly ??? $30,000 in monetary donations and $4250 in in-kind contributions from SEIU to Bertani??? And people and to rag on du Bain for coughing up his own money? Hmmm, I think I would rather have someone in office who isn't so obviously bought and paid for by the 'largest union for Solano government employees'.... Abrams (police unions) and Bertani (SEIU) both supported by interests who will be ready to collect once elected. No thanks.

LarryMay 23, 2014 - 8:47 am

DotMay 23, 2014 - 9:37 am

@larry, fair question and yes- because of the diversity of them. Builders, labor, business. Largest single contribution only $5k. So yes. So many candidates run campaigns on being pro- job 'I'm going to bring jobs!' - Spering actually does bring jobs. I couldn't care less if he has 5 acres by the train station property or wherever. What the community and region gains in jobs and economic stability far, far outweighs what he will supposedly personally benefit. But to receive a majority of your donations from employee unions wreaks of 'I'll collect later' and 'you owe me now'. We've seen it too much throughout this state and I'm tired of it. Once they're elected they don't sneeze without checking in with the union to see if that's ok with them. I specifically remember several years ago, a story on the news about SEIU (state employees at the time) who testified in a committee in Sacramento and the woman in her purple SEIU shirt told the committee member, 'we put you in office and we'll take you out of office'. That spoke volumes to the expectations employee unions have once the person is in office.

LarryMay 23, 2014 - 3:30 pm

You are missing the big point? Key word here is Contribution. Any monies that is donated to any candidate is called a contribution. Why do people, organizations, business, make contribution? Because they all want something in return. All candidates who have received donations are in the hands of the contributor's. Spering's donations are coming from economic development companies, who will get all the job bids base upon their donations. How many of those jobs will be available for those in his district? I think your main point is that you do not like or approve of unions.

DotMay 23, 2014 - 9:26 pm

Larry, I'm not missing 'the big point'; I just don't agree with you. Not everyone contributes to a campaign because they want something, unless you consider them doing their job wanting something. I don't have a problem with unions. My problem is with a campaign being overwhelmingly funded by a single source or interest. It's not just the unions who do this.

AlfMay 23, 2014 - 9:15 am

Yes, Spering's contributions are fine with me. He is a supporter of economic development so his contributors are not surprising. They are also broad based and no single contribution sends alarms. On the other hand, Bertani has received $35,000 of her $50,000 from a single source, SEIU. Ms. Bertani is offically bought and paid for by a public employee union. If you want to be concerned about something Larry, that should be it. If you want to know what that means, read the pledge she signed at: https://app.box.com/glazer4assembly/2/1710621672/16247436777/1

AlfMay 23, 2014 - 9:21 am

Spering's believes in economic development. His contributors are no surprise. There is no single major contribution that sets off alarms. On the other hand, $35,000 of Bertani's $50,000 come from a single special interest group public employee union! Are you kidding me? If you want to be concerned about something Larry, that should do it. Ms. Bertani is offically bought and paid for. I would be concerned about that too. Her soul has been officially sold. As long as she remains in politics SEIU owns her.

George Guynn, JrMay 23, 2014 - 10:14 am

The Mister is 100% correct about the incumbent protection program is hard at work. I recommend voting for Michael Oman, Gerald Clift, Krishna Abrams, and writing in Tom Toler for Sheriff. And don't forget that Spering should have gone to jail when the Grand Jury did a report on him in the 1999-2000 Grand Jury Report about taking personal trips and charging the taxpayers!